Friday 9 December 2016

Pre-primary Education - in a nutshell


I was checking for the kindergarten curriculum from MoE and realized that MoE provides a range of reading to enable parents and teachers of KG students, get a good perspective about the key aspects of pre-primary education, be it structured or non-structured. Below points are a cheat sheet from my reading. A full reading is encouraged, and can make use of the reference section.

Six Learning Areas [1]

1. Aesthetics and Creative Expression
2. Discovery of the World
3. Language and Literacy
4. Motor Skills Development
5. Numeracy
6. Social and Emotional Development

Fig 1. Overview of the Kindergarten Curriculum Framework [2]

Learning Dispositions [2]
1. Perseverance
2. Reflectiveness
3. Appreciation
4. Inventiveness
5. Sense of wonder and curiosity
6. Engagement

iTEACH principles [2]
1. integrated approach to learning
2. Teachers as facilitators of learning
3. Engaging children in learning through purposeful play
4. Authentic learning through quality interactions
5. Children as constructors of knowledge
6. Holistic development

Learning Goals [2]

  1. Language and Literacy
    1. Listen for information and enjoyment
    2. Speak to convey meaning and communicate with others
    3. Read with understanding and for enjoyment
    4. Use drawing, mark making, symbols and writing with invented and conventional spelling to communicate ideas and information
  2. Motor Skills Development
    1. Enjoy through participation in a variety of physical activities
    2. Demonstrate control, coordination and balance in gross motor tasks
    3. Demonstrate control and coordination in fine motor tasks
    4. Develop healthy habits and safety awareness at home, in school and at public places
  3. Aesthetics and Creative Expression
    1. Enjoy art and music and movement activities
    2. Express ideas and feelings through art and music and movement
    3. Create art and music and movement using experimentation and imagination
    4. Share ideas and feelings about art and music and movement
  4. Discovery of the World
    1. Show an interest in the world they live in
    2. Find out why things happen and how things work through simple investigations
    3. Develop a positive attitude towards the world around them
  5. Numeracy
    1. Recognise and use simple relationships and patterns
    2. Use numbers in daily experiences
    3. Recognise and use basic shapes and simple spatial concepts in daily experiences
  6. Social and Emotional Development
    1. Develop an awareness of personal identity
    2. Manage their own emotions and behaviours
    3. Show respect for diversity
    4. Communicate, interact and build relationships with others
    5. Take responsibility for their actions

References
[1] https://www.moe.gov.sg/education/preschool/resources-for-pre-school-educators
[2] https://www.moe.gov.sg/docs/default-source/document/education/preschool/files/kindergarten-curriculum-framework-guide-for-parents.pdf